Follow Belmond in one feed. This hub gathers the latest news and developments across the LVMH-owned luxury travel and hotel group, curated from trusted sources. Stay on top of a distinctive name in luxury hospitality and trains.
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Mexican Hospitality Summit in Mérida Doubles Attendance, Hosts 400 Professionals and Over 50 Industry Experts
8 June 2026📈 May 27-28, Fiesta Americana Mérida: Over 400 professionals attended the Mexican Hospitality Summit (SMH), more than doubling participation from the previous edition. Founded by Rocco Bova, this event included 50+ speakers from companies like Expedia and Accor. Hosted by Jeannette Ceja and Saúl Ancona, topics included innovation, luxury tourism, and sustainability. A key session titled “The Future Checks In Here” focused on upcoming hotel projects in Mexico, featuring industry leaders like Joshua Kremer and Bruno de los Reyes.
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Louis Vuitton Hotel Will Not Open
2 June 2026For more than two years, one of the most discussed hospitality projects in Paris was the rumored arrival of the world’s first Louis Vuitton hotel. Located at 103-111 Avenue des
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Maroma Hotel Reduces Waste and Supports Local Communities Through Local Sourcing and Zero-Waste Practices
5 May 2026🌿 Osvaldo emphasizes local sourcing at Maroma, partnering with Sian Ka’an lobster fishers and local farmers to reduce packaging waste. Freddy’s Bar follows a zero-waste cocktail philosophy, maximizing ingredient use. Since March 2024, Maroma donated 610.25 kg of surplus food (2,034 portions) to Contando con un Amigo, aiding 80+ children in Playa del Carmen. In 2025, Maroma’s Bee School will educate on bee conservation and climate issues, highlighting community and environmental impact.
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Minor Hotels Launches Anantara Private Jet Journeys, Expanding Luxury Travel to Remote Resorts by 2027
30 April 2026✈ Anantara Private Jet Journeys, announced by Ian Di Tullio, CCO of Minor Hotels, offers luxury air travel to remote resorts. Routes include the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Kenya, and Tanzania. This initiative aligns with a growing demand for seamless, immersive travel experiences. Minor Hotels plans to expand from over 560 properties to add 300 more by 2027, alongside launching two new brands to enhance its Anantara brand.
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Villa San Michele in Florence Reopens After 18-Month Renovation with Redesigned Rooms and New Spa by Guerlain
29 April 2026🏨 Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel, Florence, reopened on April 28, 2026, after an 18-month renovation. Located in the Fiesole hills, the hotel now features 39 redesigned rooms and suites, a Guerlain spa, and restored gardens. Renovations include 27 suites and 12 rooms by Luigi Fragola Architects. Guests can enjoy new dining options and curated wellbeing experiences. The gardens cover over 10,000 square meters, and the property offers seasonal programs like yoga and sound healing.
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Klaus Kabelitz Appointed General Manager of Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo, Succeeding Retiring Serge Ethuin
21 April 2026📅 Klaus Kabelitz has been appointed as the new general manager of Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo, located in Monaco, succeeding Serge Ethuin, who retired after over ten years. Kabelitz began his role in September 2024 at The Kensington in London and has prior leadership experience, including managing The Biltmore Mayfair and The Cadogan London. He aims to enhance the luxury hotel’s influence and guest experience with his extensive background in high-end hospitality across Europe and the U.S.
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AI Dominates European Travel Planning, Becoming Main Tool for Inspiration and Search Relevance
2 April 2026💻 AI is transforming travel planning in Europe, becoming the primary tool for inspiration. Meanwhile, Airbnb’s growth includes mundane additions like airport transfers. Major events show a disconnect with strong ticket sales but weak hotel bookings. A 40-day booking window trend indicates cancellations are high. In luxury markets, consistency over creativity is emphasized, with Belmond succeeding by slowing down. Social media faces scrutiny for promoting addiction, akin to tobacco’s past. An underlying software layer, often run on Excel, may soon…
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Arsenale Group Disrupts Luxury Hospitality with 10 Iconic European Assets and Expands Luxury Train Portfolio to 11 Trains
1 April 2026🛡 Arsenale Group, led by partners Nicola Bulgari (85), Luca Rovati (66), and Paolo (40), owns iconic hotels and trains across Europe, with 10 assets primarily in Italy. Their strategy diverges from the asset-light model, preferring ownership to align vision and service. They own 11 of 30 luxury trains globally, including the Golden Eagle and La Dolce Vita. Arsenale partners with Accor for Orient Express hotels in Rome and Venice. Expansion targets include Central and Eastern Europe, with a focus…
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Fast Company Names Belmond Among Most Innovative Companies of 2026 for Its “Slow Luxury” Approach
27 March 2026🏨 Fast Company named Belmond one of the Most Innovative Companies of 2026 for its approach in the hospitality industry. Known for emphasizing patience and craft, Belmond offers “Slow Luxury” experiences in its hotels, trains, boats, and lodges worldwide. This week, they were praised for their radical innovation of slowing down in a fast-paced world, ensuring that time is invested in creating memorable guest experiences rather than being spent hastily.
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Shiji Deploys Infrasys POS System on Eastern & Oriental Express to Enhance Luxury Train Service in Asia
12 March 2026🚄 Singapore, March 12, 2026 – Shiji’s Infrasys POS system, operational since July 16, 2024, is now enhancing the Eastern & Oriental Express, a luxury train in Southeast Asia. Covering routes from Bangkok to Singapore, this technology boosts service efficiency and guest experience, offering digital records and seamless billing. Shiji, a major hospitality tech provider with 5,000 employees, supports over 91,000 hotels globally, integrating modern solutions with historic charm.
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Elevates Luxury Dining on the Eastern & Oriental Express, A Belmond Train, Southeast Asia, with Shiji’s Infrasys POS
12 March 2026Shiji’s POS system has been operational since July 2024 on the luxury train route between Bangkok and Singapore, streamlining dining operations.
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Out of the past: Gilda Perez-Alvarado drives Orient Express down the track
23 February 2026🛡️ Gilda Perez-Alvarado, CEO of Orient Express for Accor since 2023, is leading the revival of the historic brand. Accor acquired full ownership of Orient Express by 2022 and opened the Orient Express La Minerva hotel in Rome in 2025. Plans include a Venice property debut in 2026 and a Caribbean yacht launch in 2023. Perez-Alvarado, influenced by her childhood in Costa Rica and her hotel industry background, aims to honor the brand’s rich history through these new ventures.
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The future of luxury hospitality: who will stand out, and why ?
20 February 2026🏨 The luxury hotel market, worth $112.4 billion in 2025, is projected to hit $219.1 billion by 2035, with a 7.7% annual growth rate. Economy hotels’ revenue per room dropped 1.8% through August 2025, while luxury saw a 5.3% rise. In 2025, Four Seasons was the most admired hotel group, and Mandarin Oriental ranked top luxury brand. Rosewood Hong Kong was named the world’s best hotel. Total US hotel labor costs reached $127 billion in 2025, up 15.3% since 2019.
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U.S. News Reveals the 2026 Best Hotels
10 February 2026🏨 U.S. News & World Report released its 2026 Best Hotels rankings on July 2023, featuring over 31,000 hotels across 400+ destinations. Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Hawaii, retained the top U.S. spot, while Adare Manor led in Europe. Jade Mountain, St. Lucia, topped the Caribbean, and Esperanza in Cabo San Lucas was best in Mexico. The rankings evaluate hotels using star ratings, expert opinions, and online reviews.
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Belmond names managing director, global lodges
16 January 2026📰 Steve Mitchell was appointed managing director of global lodges at Belmond, reporting to Iain Langridge. He oversees the expansion of Belmond’s global lodge portfolio and existing safari lodges in Botswana, including Eagle Island Lodge and Savute Elephant Lodge. Previously, Mitchell co-founded Angama, leading its growth in locations like Kenya’s Maasai Mara. He also founded the Angama Foundation, supporting local communities. His appointment aims to enhance guest experiences and reinforce Belmond’s position in Slow Luxury travel.
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Belmond expands lodge platform as Slow Luxury strategy gains momentum
16 January 2026🏝️ Steve Mitchell will lead Belmond’s lodges globally, focusing on Botswana’s Eagle Island and Savute Elephant Lodge. Reporting to Iain Langridge, he aims to enhance guest experiences and community impact. Previously, Mitchell scaled Angama into a notable safari brand in East Africa over 12 years. Under CEO Dan Ruff, Belmond strengthens its executive team and European presence, opening Villa Beatrice in Italy. Laura Magnon Pujo will join as senior VP of HR in 2026.
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La Résidence Phou Vao in Laos Reopens After Stunning Transformation
9 January 2026🏨 La Résidence Phou Vao, located atop Phou Vao Hill in Luang Prabang, Laos, has reopened after a comprehensive renovation led by Sanya Souvanna Phouma and HMD Asia. The 37-suite hotel combines Lao heritage and French art with modern comforts, such as expanded private terraces and state-of-the-art facilities. Plans for 2026 include a wellness center and a Presidential Suite. The renovation honors its history while offering panoramic views of UNESCO-listed sites and sacred mountains.
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Scaling a French boutique hotel brand
7 January 2026🏨 Fontenille Collection, founded in 2016 by Frederic Biousse and Guillaume Foucher, owns 12 boutique hotels in France, Italy, and Spain. The company produces 300,000 wine bottles annually and is expanding into Brittany, Burgundy, and the Alps. LVMH acquired a 23% stake four months ago. The first hotel cost €20M. Fontenille targets offering affordable luxury (€400-800/night) and relies heavily on direct bookings, with 80% of sales direct. Their strategy emphasizes heritage, community, and experiential luxury.
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Mag HON 362-363: Luxury clients are deploying new behaviors
2 January 2026💰 Luxury clientele has diversified, with 35% of the market now consisting of Mass Affluents and Luxury Seekers, whose wealth ranges from USD 100,000 to USD 1 million. Millionaires Next Door (USD 1 to 5 million) and HNWIs (USD 5 to 30 million) prioritize non-ostentatious luxury, personalized travel, and cultural experiences. Ultra-HNWIs (over USD 30 million) demand rarity, time efficiency, and transformative experiences. Generational shifts, driven by Millennials and Gen Z, are redefining luxury expectations.
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Rocco Forte Hotels Introduces New General Managers
30 December 2025📅 London, December 30, 2025: Rocco Forte Hotels appoints four General Managers, enhancing its leadership team. Anna Gricini leads Hotel de la Ville, Rome, from November 1, 2025, after 16 years with the brand. Maximilian Von Reden takes charge of Hotel Amigo, Brussels, on November 3, with 20+ years in luxury hospitality. Matteo Gentile joins Hotel Savoy, Florence, on November 3, bringing decades of experience. Ulrich Schwer becomes General Manager at The Charles Hotel, Munich. Francesco Roccato oversees the new…
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Nusfjord Village & Resort names new GM
10 December 2025🏨 Claudia Rodrigues is appointed as the new general manager of Nusfjord Village & Resort in Norway, effective February 2026. Nusfjord, located in the Lofoten Islands, is a historic boutique hotel renowned for its 400-year history. Rodrigues, with nearly 20 years of global hospitality experience, previously worked in Spain, Fiji, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, and Botswana. Nusfjord offers restored 19th-century cabins and is a member of the Small Luxury Hotels’ Considerate Collection.
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Les Bateaux Belmond appoints new GM
21 November 2025🛣️ Maxime Brun has been appointed as the new general manager of Les Bateaux Belmond, overseeing operations for its seven riverboats in France. Brun, who previously served at Château Saint Laurent for four years, brings experience from Pink Lady Europe and Nestlé France. Les Bateaux Belmond operates April to October, hosting 4 to 12 passengers per boat, emphasizing a “Slow Luxury” travel experience. Brun aims to enhance guest experiences for the 2026 season.
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Luxury Starts Within: People Who Make Hospitality Shine
6 November 2025Blog Post Excerpt 🏨 At the Beyond Luxury Awards held in November 2025 at Fairmont La Hacienda Costa del Sol, Spain, leaders in luxury hospitality emphasized the significance of human connection over technology. Staff interactions boost guest satisfaction more than cleanliness, evidenced by a 0.6-point increase in GRI, compared to 0.3 for other factors. Technology aids staff by automating tasks, allowing personalized guest experiences. Emphasizing employee well-being as a brand strategy enhances guest experiences and brand reputation.
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St Regis London to open in Mayfair in 2026
31 October 2025🏨 St Regis London will open in mid-2026 in Mayfair, marking the brand’s London debut. The hotel will have 195 rooms, including 64 suites. Marco Novella, with over 20 years in luxury hospitality, was appointed as general manager in 2024. Designed by Richmond International, the redevelopment includes two new floors and revamped public areas. Amenities feature a signature restaurant, a jazz bar, two spa suites, and butler service. This expands Marriott’s luxury presence in London.
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Belmond’s Villa San Michele to Reopen in Florence Next Year
29 October 2025🏨 Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel in Florence, reopens on April 28th after an 18-month restoration. Originally a 15th-century monastery, the villa features 39 redesigned rooms and three new signature suites: Limonaia, Grand Tour, and Botanica. The site introduces the Villa San Michele Spa by Guerlain, with three treatment rooms. The 2.4-acre gardens and gastronomic restaurant led by Chef Alessandro Cozzolino enhance the guest experience. A partnership with La DoubleJ enriches wellness programming.
